Spring 2025 Course Syllabus
Course: HIST-1301 (Section: 72, CRN: 10777)
United States History I 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Marshall Godwin
Email godwinmt@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6320
Office Madison Monroe Educational - Room: 147
Office Hours MO, WE, TH: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
TU: 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM
FR: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Additional Contact Information n/a
Course Information
Description A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of the United States from the pre-Columbian era to the Civil War/Reconstruction period. United States History I includes the study of pre-Columbian, colonial, revolutionary, early national, slavery and sectionalism, and the Civil War/Reconstruction eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History I include: American settlement and diversity, American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological
Required Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

A student attending Lamar State College – Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
 
OpenStax U.S. History is a free, online textbook which you will be able to access from Blackboard. Any and all additional readings, should additional readings be assigned, will be posted to Blackboard. You will NOT need to purchase any textbooks – or any other reading materials – for this course. You may access your OpenStax U.S. History via the following link:
 
https://openstax.org/details/books/us-history
 
You can read the book directly online from https://openstax.orgor download a PDF copy which you can save to your device (laptop, tablet, external hard drive, etc.). Be aware that this file is massive, and downloading a copy might take a few minutes if your connection is slow.
Additional Materials/Resources In addition to the basic course textbook, you will be required to read other materials including but not limited to primary sources, secondary sources and other articles or book excerpts germane to U.S. History before 1877. All of these materials will be available to you through the course Blackboard, and it is your responsibility to read them in preparation for the quizzes, minor writing assignments, and module tests. You will not need to purchase any reading materials for this course. 
Corequisites/Prerequisites
  • ENGL-0302 College Reading Skills
  • ENGL-0327 Integrated Reading and Writing
Learning Outcomes
  1. Create an argument through the use of historical evidence
  2. Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources
  3. Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on this period of United States history
Core Objectives
* Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and/or visual communication.
* Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.
* Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities.
* Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.

Lecture Topics Outline
INTRODUCTORY MODULE (01/21/25 – 01/24/25)
 
In the introductory module you will learn about the course structure, read through the syllabus, and complete your first two minor assignments. You must complete this module before 11:59 p.m. on 01/24/25: any work done after that point will be counted late.
 
Readings:
  • Syllabus
  • Other Introductory Module materials
 
Assignments:
  • Syllabus Quiz
  • Minor writing assignment 1
 
Other Notes:
  • You must complete all readings, view all items and complete all assignments in the Introductory Module to move on to Module 1
  • Must score a 100% on the syllabus quiz to access Module 1 of the course
MODULE 1 (01/27/25 – 02/14/25)
 
**This module will become accessible from 01/27/25 on, but only if you completed the introductory module and scored a 100% on the syllabus quiz. **
 
In the first module of the course, we will learn about the premodern Atlantic world, the rise and spread of the early modern western European empires, and the shifting political and social circumstances of Indigenous American, Euro-American and African American peoples in North America during the chaotic period between the 1490s and the 1660s.
 
Readings:
  • OpenStax U.S. History chapters 1, 2 and 3
  • All articles in Module 1 on Blackboard
 
Assignments:
  • Three quizzes (over chapters 1, 2 and 3 in U.S. History)
  • Three minor writing assignments
  • Module 1 Test(accessible between 12:00 a.m. on 02/13/25 and 11:59 p.m. on 02/14/25)
 
Other Notes:
  • You must complete all readings, view all items and complete all assignments in Module 1 to move on to Module 2 of this course.  
MODULE 2(02/17/25 - 03/07/25)
 
**This module will become accessible after 02/17/25, provided you have completed all readings and assignments in Module 1.**
 
In this module, we will focus on the British Empire in North America. After learning about a century of growth in territory and influence between the 1660s and 1760s, we will discuss how and why several radical political ideas, most notably republicanism, began to spread across British North America during the 1760s. The spread of Enlightenment political ideals and the growth of radical protest movements during the 1760s and early 1770s helped precipitate a civil war in British North America that saw the population split into three groups: Loyalists who supported the empire, neutrals who simply wanted the cataclysm to end, and Patriots who supported a Revolution against the British Empire and the organization of a new, monarch-less republic.  
 
Readings:
  • OpenStax U.S. History chapters 4, 5 and 6
  • All articles in Module 2 on Blackboard
 
Assignments:
  • Three quizzes (over chapters 4, 5 and 6 in U.S. History)
  • Three minor writing assignments
  • Module 2 Test(accessible between 12:00 a.m. on 03/06/25 and 11:59 p.m. on 03/07/25).
 
Other Notes:
  • You must complete all readings, view all items and complete all assignments in Module 2 to move on to Module 3 of this course.
MODULE 3 (03/17/25 – 04/04/25)
 
**This module will become accessible after 03/17/25, provided you have completed all materials in Module 2 of this course.
 
After we return from Spring Break, we will learn about the turbulent decades of the early republic. The United States was beset by many different challenges after the Revolution, and its survival was not guaranteed, but despite military, economic and political threats from both without and within, the U.S. clung to life and began to take more solid form by the early nineteenth century. In addition to major political developments like the penning of the U.S. Constitution and foundation of the Federal government, the industrial revolution began slowly developing in the U.S. during the 1780s and 1790s. By the 1810s and 1820s, factories began  spreading across the northern tier of the country.  
 
Readings:
  • OpenStax U.S. History chapters 7, 8 and 9
  • All articles in Module 3 on Blackboard
 
Assignments:
  • Three quizzes (over chapters 7, 8 and 9 in U.S. History)
  • Three minor writing assignments
  • Module 3 Test (accessible between 12:00 a.m. 04/03/25 and 11:59 p.m. on 04/04/25).
 
Other Notes:
  • You must complete all of the materials in this folder in order to move on to the fourth module of the course.
  • You will receive instructions about the research assignment on 03/17/25. The research assignment is not part of this module, but is a distinct assignment that will be due on 04/30/25.
MODULE 4 (04/07/25 – 04/25/25)
 
**This module will become accessible after 04/07/25, provided you have completed all readings and assignments in Module 3 of the course.**
 
During the antebellum (pre-Civil War) period, sectional tensions developed in the U.S., particularly between the southern states and the northern states. The chaos of the Jacksonian period led, among other things, to the birth of the Democratic Party, a political organization that became increasingly connected to the promotion of Southern interests and the defense of racial slavery. Slavery began to serve as an emblem for the many cultural, social, economic, technological and political differences between the North and South, and as time waxed on a small but growing contingent of Northerners began to oppose the expansion of slavery and some even dared to oppose its very existence. Although the abolitionist movement was not new, its importance and influence grew during this period.
 
Readings:
  • OpenStax U.S. History chapters 10, 12 and 13
  • All articles in Module 4 on Blackboard
 
Assignments:
  • Three quizzes (over chapters 10, 12 and 13)
  • Three minor writing assignments
  • Module 4 Test (accessible between 12:00 a.m. on 04/24/25 and 11:59 p.m. 04/25/25)
 
Other Notes:
  • You must complete all materials and assignments in Module 4 in order to move on to Module 5
MODULE 5 (04/28/25 – 05/12/25)
 
**This module will become available on 04/28/25, provided you have completed all materials and assignments in Module 4 of the course.**
 
During the final module of the course, we will learn about the bloody chaos of the 1850s, as tensions between the North and South came to a head and political discourse started to break down, only to be replaced by politically-motivated violence. These tensions skyrocketed following the 1860 presidential election, which motivated South Carolina to secede from the United States, setting the Civil War into motion.
 
There will not be a module test for the fifth module: instead, on 05/12/25, you will take the cumulative FINAL EXAM.
 
Readings:
  • OpenStax U.S. History (chapters 14 and 15)
  • Articles in Module 5 on Blackboard
 
Assignments:
  • Two quizzes (over chapters 14 and 15)
  • Two minor writing assignments
  • FINAL EXAM (accessible only on 05/12/25, from 12:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m.)
 
Other Notes:
  • Your RESEARCH PRESENTATION is due no later than 11:59 p.m. on 04/30/25, the third day that this module is active.

Major Assignments Schedule
  Assignments: Due by 11:59 p.m. on:
Intro
  • Quiz (syllabus)
  • Minor writing assignment 1
 01/24/25
Module 1
  • Quiz 2 (ch. 1)
  • Quiz 3 (ch. 2)
  • Quiz 4 (ch. 3)
  • Minor writing assignment 2
  • Minor writing assignment 3
  • Minor writing assignment 4
  • Module 1 Test
 02/14/25
Module 2
  • Quiz 5 (ch. 4)
  • Quiz 6 (ch. 5)
  • Quiz 7 (ch. 6)
  • Minor writing assignment 5
  • Minor writing assignment 6
  • Minor writing assignment 7
  • Module 2 Test
 03/07/25
Module 3
  • Quiz 8 (ch. 7)
  • Quiz 9 (ch. 8)
  • Quiz 10 (ch. 9)
  • Minor writing assignment 8
  • Minor writing assignment 9
  • Minor writing assignment 10
  • Module 3 Test
 04/04/25
Module 4
  • Quiz 11 (ch. 10)
  • Quiz 12 (ch. 12)
  • Quiz 13 (ch. 13)
  • Minor writing assignment 11
  • Minor writing assignment 12
  • Minor writing assignment 13
  • Module 4 Test
 04/25/25
Research
  • Research Project
 04/30/25
Module 5
  • Quiz 14 (ch. 14)
  • Quiz 15 (ch. 15)
  • Minor writing assignment 14
  • Minor writing assignment 15
  • FINAL EXAM
 05/12/25

Final Exam Date May 12, 2025 - 12:0 AM   Through  May 12, 2025 - 11:59 PM
Grading Scale  90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B  70 - 79=C   60 - 69=D  Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade

Assignment

Percentage of final course grade

Module Tests

40% (10% each)

Final Exam

20%

Research Paper

10%

Minor writing assignments

15% (1% each)

Chapter Quizzes

15% (1% each)

Course Policies
Instructor Policies COURSE POLICIES

Syllabus Policy
The instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus - including but not limited to assignments, due dates and basic policies - as needed.

Extra Credit Policy
I do not offer extra credit to students.

Module Assignment Due Date Policy
Assignment due dates are non-negotiable: you will need to complete all of the assignments in a particular module by the end date for that module. If you have not, then you will receive a zero for all unfinished assignments; however, you will still have to complete all of the assignments in order to move on to the next module. All Module dates are listed above in the "Lecture Topics Outline" component of this syllabus. 

Here's an example of how Module due dates work in practice:

Let's say that it's 11:59 p.m. on Friday 02/14/25, the last day for Module 1 of the course, and you have not completed all of the assignments in Module 1. As soon as the clock rolls over to 12:00 a.m., Saturday, 02/15/25, any incomplete assignments for Module 1 will be marked late and you will receive automatic zeroes for all incomplete assignments. Not only that, but if you still haven't completed all of the Module 1 assignments by the time Module 2 starts (Monday, 02/17/25), you will locked out of Module 2 until you finish those Module 1 assignments. You will not receive credit for the now-completed Module 1 assignments, as they are late, but you must still complete them to move on with the course.

Late Work and Make-Up Work Policy
I will not accept late research assignments under any circumstances. All research assignments must be turned in on or before 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, 04/30/25. Additionally, note that I will only accept research assignments that are uploaded on time directly to Blackboard as per the assignment instructions you will receive in March: put in other words, if you send me an email with your assignment file attached but do not upload your assignment to Blackboard, you will not receive credit for the assignment. It will be counted late, and you will receive a zero. 
 
Retakes and/or make-ups for the final exam are disallowed, excepting students with an appropriate Accommodations Memorandum or those students faced with an authentic and documented medical, family or other crisis. In instances where the student is able to provide authentic documentation of a crisis - for example, a note from an Emergency Room, reports and/or contact information from police officers or other LEOs regarding an automobile or criminal incident, etc. - I will consider scheduling different dates for them to take an alternative exam on a case-by-case basis. Apart from those possible exceptions, all students will take the final exam on 05/12/25. 
 
Students with an Accommodations Memorandum might have different testing requirements – e.g., they might be allowed more time to complete exams, etc. –  befitting their particular educational needs. 
 
Respondus Lock Down Browser / Test-taking Policy
In order to take the tests, you must login to Blackboard through Respondus LockDown Browser. The LockDown browser will require you to close out all other browsers and tabs, and you will not be able to access the Module Tests unless you do so through the LockDown Browser. Additionally, you will need to have an active webcam during the Module tests and the final exam.
 
The Respondus LockDown Browser will be downloadable on Blackboard once the First Module Test is live, and instructional sheets and videos on how to use the LockDown browser to access your tests will be provided.  

Disability Accommodations 
If you have an Accommodations Memorandum from the Office for Disability Services, please be sure to email me a copy of the PDF as soon as you are able to do so. I must have a copy of the Memorandum in order to properly apply it to your assignments or to adjust exam-taking to meet your particular educational needs. Accommodations Memoranda are not applied retroactively, so be send me your Memorandum as early in the semester as possible.
 
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is essential to truly learning any subject or discipline. You are to submit your own work, not the work of peers, friends, or anyone – or anything – else. By cheating, you not only jeopardize your own academic future, you are cheating your future self out of your own education.
 
All research papers will be screened for plagiarism. For a more thorough definition of plagiarism, please refer to the “Academic Policies” section of the Student Handbook.
 
Below are the consequences for acts of plagiarism in this course:
 
  1. First Offense: For your first plagiarism offense, you will receive a grade of 0% on the assignment. You will be required to come to my office and discuss plagiarism with me, something I am sure we both want to avoid.
  2. Second Offense: A second plagiarism offense will result in yet another grade of 0% for the plagiarized assignment, and the student’s name and all documented offenses will be forwarded to the proper LSCPA officials.
  3. Third or Further Offense(s): The student will receive grades of 0% for all offensive assignments and, in severe cases might even fail the course entirely and face additional consequences.
 
Since it clearly needs to be stated, note that use of an AI service to write all or part of an assignment constitutes an act of plagiarism and will result in an immediate zero on the offending assignment.
Attendance Policy You should be sure to login - at a bare minimum - twice each week to stay on top of your coursework and to keep track of course announcements and changes, should there be any. Since this is an online asynchronous course, you will not receive an attendance grade as such, but the instructor will keep tabs on how often you login and will alert the relevant persons at LSCPA about students who go more than 168 hours with logging in. 
Additional Information n/a
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Facility Policies No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.
Grievance / Complaint / Concern If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Department Information
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Dr. Steven Zani
Email:zanisj@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6431